Reports

A spotlight on foster care

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In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in foster care programmes in low and middle-income
countries, often in an attempt to develop more appropriate alternatives to the use of large-scale institutional care for children who cannot be cared for by their own families. Yet research, knowledge and understanding on how to deliver effective, safe foster care programmes in such contexts is often missing (Family for Every Child, 2015a).

Concerns have also been raised that, while foster care can benefit many children, it is in some cases being used when family separation is avoidable or when it is not the most appropriate form of alternative care for the individual child (Family for Every Child, 2015b). To help fill this gap in understanding and to ensure that foster care is safe, effective, and only used when necessary and appropriate, Family for Every Child has developed two reports on foster care:

The place of foster care in the continuum of care choices for children: A review of the evidence for policy makers

Strategies for delivering safe and effective foster care: A review of the evidence for those designing and delivering foster care programmes.